Improvement in the attachment of main-springs to  watch-barrels



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ARTHUR VADSWORTH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.`

Lette/rs Patent No. 91,388, lated June 15, 1869; antedated December 15, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN THVE ATTACHMENT OF MAIN-SPRINGS TO WATCH-BARRELS, 8c c.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

together with such parts as I claim, and desire to bavesecured to me by Letters Patent.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in watches; -and It consists in a novel manner of connecting the mainspring ofthe watch to the barrel in which said spring is enclosed, whereby the connection lis made to follow the spring, or approach in a direction toward the eentre or'arbor of the same, as the spring is wound up,

and to recede or move outward from the centre or arhor of the spring, as the latter unwinds, thereby preventing the breaking of the springa contingency of frequent occurrence inthe ordinary mode of connecting the outer end of the spring directly to the barre] -In order to obtain the very desirable result above specified, I cnt out a section or segment of the periphery of the barrel, and hinge, or connect by pivots, one

end of said section or segment to the main portion of .the barrel, the opposite end of the section or segment being connected to the outer end of the spring, the parts being arranged in such a manner that the scc. tion or segment, when fully closed, and the spring is unwound, will be flush with the inner surface of the periphery of the barrel, and the full benefit of the spring obtained in its action upon the movement of the watch, and the action or power of the spring brought to bear upon the barrel more directly, or in a direction lnore concentrirally therewith, than hitherto.

In the accompanying sheet of dra-wings- Figure 1 is an internal view of the barrel of a watch, having a spring within it in an unwound state, and attached to the barrel-in accordance with my invent-ion.

Figurera view of the saine, showing the spring.

fully wound up. h

Figure-5, a section of figs. 1 and 2, taken in the line 11 x. y

Figure 4, aview of the barrel of a watch, having a spring enclosed, and attached in the ordinary way.

Similar letters of reterence'indicate corresponding parts in the several drawings.

A represents the barrel of a watch, the bottom, n, and side, l), being in one piece, and the top, c, made separately, and fitted over the upper edge of the side, b, like a box-cover, the top, c, being sufficiently large in diameter to project beyond the side, b, and admit of being toothed, to communicate motion to the train.

B is an arbor, which passes loosely and centrally through the barrel, and

U is the watch-spring, litt-ed within the barrel, and

having its inner end connected to the arbor B, as

usual.

A section or segment of the side, b, of the barrel is removed. o r ont out, and the piece or segment, d, thus cut out, or a similar one, is inserted in its place, and secured at one end by pivots or pins e, which project from the upper and lower sides of the segment, and fit in suitable holes in the bottom, a, and top, c, of the barrel, said holes being made at suoli points that the segment d, when closed, so as toll up the opening in the side, b, will be iiush with both the exterior v and interior surfaces of the side, b.

The outer end `of the spring C is attached to the free or disengaged end of the segment d and it will he seen that this segment forms the connection between the spring and the barrel. Hence, as the spring is wound up, the free or disengaged end of the segment will move inward, toward the arbor B, or centre of the spring, and, as the spring is unwound, the free or disengaged end of the segment d will move outward from the arbor B, or centre of the spring. This will be fully understood by referringto figs. 1 and 2.

By this arrangement, therefore, the tension or pull of the spring is made to bear iu a direction nearly concentric with the barrel, and the spring is not so liable to be broken as when attached in the ordinary way, to wit, by means of a hook, f, and directly to the in ner surface of the side of the barrel, as shown in vfig. 3. The action of the spring will, consequently, be more uniform on the barrel; and, besides this, the full benet of the spring obtained for the exterior of the barrel is not encroaohed upon or monopolized by any part or parts whatever.

In -the ordinary mode of connecting the outer end of the spring .C to the barrel, the hook f prevents the spring uncoiling -two turns, or takes 'up the room'orspace of two turns of the spring. This feature, in connection with the liability of thel spring to break, owing to the strain or pull being materially out ofthe direction ,of the turning-movement of the barrel, and the inappreciable additional expense iuzidopting myimprovement, which obviates the difficulties' above alluded to,render my invention of material practical value in the manufacture ofwatches.

Having thus described my invention,

What- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The pivoted segment (l, iitted in the periphery or side, b, of the barrel A, with the pivots, which are at one end of the segment, working in xed bearings in the barrel, and the opposite or free end of the Segment attached to the outer end of the spring C, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. y

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 11th day of November, 1868. i

XVitnesses: ARTHUR WADSWORTH.

H. L. WATTENBERG, A. 1t. HAIGHT. 

